American Historical Ephemera & Photography

JUNEAU, Solomon. Manuscript copy of letter signed ("S.J."). Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 9 March 1839. Addressed to Samuel Abbott, Esq. 2pp, 7 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. (bottom 1/3 of letter missing, remaining 2 pieces completely separated at horizontal fold, loss to right edge line).

Juneau writes to Abbott regarding the potential purchase of the "Schooner Solomon Juneau" and other business matters, noting that "My little trade with the Indians has been tolerably fair...The Land Sale is going on in our village very lively, the taverns & Boarding houses are filling with settlers and speculators... Our canal will be commence this year if we can now have an appropriation for a harbour business in general will be good." Juneau is likely discussing the growth of his settlement "Juneautown" which is a portion of present-day Milwaukee. Juneau is considered a "founding father" of the city, having built the city's first store, inn, and newspaper business. He served as Milwaukee's first mayor from 1846-1847. Juneau arrived in Milwaukee as an agent for the American Fur Company, a position which likely introduced him to Samuel Abbott (1783-1851). Abbott joined the American Fur Company in 1817 and eventually settled in Mackinac Island where he served as justice of peace, collector of customs, magistrate, judge, notary public, and American Fur Company agent.